AWARD-WINNING No. 67 Autumn 2005 CAMPAIGN CAMPAIGN FOR FOR REAL ALE REAL ALE www.camrabristol.org.uk PPPIIINNNTSTSTS WWWEEESSSTTT PPAward-winning newsletter of the Bristol & District Branch of CAMRA, the Campaign forTT Real Ale New brewery opens in Keynsham THE town of Keynsham, between Bristol and Bath, is once again to have its own real ale micro-brewery. Situated in a small trading estate off the Bristol Road, the 10-barrel brewery uses equipment that lay unused for three years after the previous business ceased trading. Head brewer and director John Firth says he will concen- trate on providing flavour from his beers, the first of which is the 4.5% ABV Somerdale Gold, one of the new ‘Golden Ale’ category recently recognised by CAMRA. It is a pale coloured hoppy ale, with a floral citrus taste and spicy aroma. More regular beers will follow, including a lower-gravity bitter and something ‘dark and tasty’ for the autumn, plus an Xmas Ale and later some seasonal specials. John is an experienced Craft Brewer, long-term CAMRA member and currently Chairman of the Bristol and District Tasting Panel, so he knows a thing or two about how beers should taste. John says he especially loves the amazing variety of flavours that can be extracted from fresh hops of differing species, by combining them with the highest quality floor-malted barley and true brewers’ yeast. Strewth, it’s hot work setting up He says, “When I heard that Colin Brook, the landlord of your own brewery the Old Bank Inn on the High Street in Keynsham, was looking to re-open the brewery, I leapt at the chance to turn my hobby And so the Keynsham Brewing Company is born. into a business – every full-mash home brewer dreams of If you wish to find out more, perhaps to give the beer a try having his own micro-brewery. I’ve spent the summer thor- in your own pub, you can contact John Firth by phone on oughly cleaning and preparing the plant, conducting test 0117 9867889 or 07711 131203; by emailing jonfirth@ brewing, and organising supplies; now I’m ready to go, and the blueyonder.co.uk; or at the following address: new beer will be available at the Old Bank before the August Keynsham Brewing Co. Ltd., Brookleaze, Stockwood Vale, Bank Holiday, and at the Mayor’s Arms festival in Redcliffe’. Keynsham, Bristol BS31 2AL. ...............................................................................................................................PINTS WEST ....................... handpumps, some directly from casks stillaged Beer festival round-up in the corner of the pub. Redcliffe 25-29 August 0117 9575775 for information. Wedmore 23-25 September A beer festival is being organised for the This year they are supporting PROPS. From 23rd to 25th September there is the the Mayor’s Arms in Redcliffe, Bristol to run This is a charity raising funds and Providing “5 & Live” Wedmore real ale festival, once from Thursday 25th August through to the Opportunities and Support for disabled again to be held in the Wedmore Village Hall. bank holiday Monday on the 29th. Hopefully children. There will be a selection of 32 beers from this issue of Pints West will be out just in time around the UK, including medal winners from for some readers to catch this event. Shirehampton 10 September the Great British Beer Festival. For more This will be an important event for the For the sixth year in a row, the information on this fund-raising event check pub as it will formally declare the pub as a real Lamplighters in Shirehampton will their web site at www.wedmorerealale.com. ale establishment, not something it was be holding their Real Ale & Music particularly renowned for in the past – until Festival in their spacious garden Bedminster 30 September to 3 October Cyril Standbridge took the place on recently. during the afternoon and evening of Just like its relation, the White Lion in the Cyril has a good track record, having previ- Saturday, the 10th of September. city centre, Wickwar’s second pub, the ously worked at the Plume of Feathers and the The Lamplighters is a pleasantly Princess of Wales in Bedminster, is getting Merchants Arms in Hotwells. located riverside pub, dating from the into the beer festival scene. Following the It is expected that there will be up to two 18th century, overlooking Pill on the resounding success of the first one in June it dozen beers on offer over the weekend, other side of the River Avon. The pub will be holding its second festival from Friday featuring a wide variety of beer styles and normally has four beers, typically from Bath 30th September through to Monday 3rd strengths. It will also feature some of the first Ales, Butcombe, Fuller’s and others, but one October. The previous festival featured “beers supplies of Somerdale Gold from the new day every September sees the erection of from the north” – this time it will be “beers Keynsham brewery. stillage in the garden and a great selection of from the south”. Once again there will be Give this pub your support if you can, beers from far and wide, often featuring current music and food and to accompany the beer – and maybe we can get Redcliffe featuring more or past Champion Beer of Britain finalists. from handpump and stillage – plus “guess the prominently on the real ale map. The pub is only a couple of minutes’ walk mystery ale”. from the Shirehampton railway station on the Cleeve 27-28 August Severn Beach line so not difficult to get to. Winscombe 30 September to 2 October The second Cleeve Rugby Football Club Entry is by advance ticket at £6 (programme, Wrington Vale Rotary Club will be Beer Festival is on Saturday 27th and Sunday glass and entertainment included), so pop in holding their fifth Beer and Cider Festival at 28th August 2005. Tickets are normally £6 for yours or give them a call on 0117 9823549. Winscombe Cricket Club, just off the A38 near but, if you’re in time, can be bought in advance Sidcot, where you can enjoy a large and by CAMRA members at the discounted price Bristol city centre 16-18 September extensive range of beers and ciders in a of £4 from Cleve RFC, Cossham Street, Building on the success of their previous convivial location. Mangotsfield, Bristol BS16 9EN. Telephone festivals, the White Lion in Bristol’s city It takes place from Friday 30th September centre will be holding to lunchtime Sunday 2nd Oct. Opening times another event they dub and prices are Friday evening 7pm to 12pm, “Bristol’s smallest Saturday evening 7pm to12pm, Sunday beerfest”. The small lunchtime 12noon to 3pm. Entrance fees are £2 The Swan Inn Wickwar pub will be for Friday, £4 for Saturday and £1 for Sunday Tockington offering 16 or so beers lunchtime. from around the Prices include souvenir glass, entertain- country between the ment, car parking etc. There will be entertain- 16th and 18th of ment on both Friday and Saturday evenings. September, some from On Friday evening there will be the gentle 7th, 8th & 9th October 2005 Come and join us in our 1st Beer Festival Tickets on sale now £5 per ticket Over 20 real ales available, Live Entertainment, Hog Roast (Sat) BBQ’s and lots more Contact Sue Chance for more details. Tockington Green, Tockington, Bristol BS32 4NJ 01454 614800 [email protected] 2 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ......................................................................................................................................................PINTS WEST tones of the Cliffton Jazz Band playing of darker beers will be pleased to know that traditional tunes, whilst you can savour the stouts and milds should be featuring. varied selection of beers and ciders. On Saturday night you can taste the beers and CAMRA Beer Festivals maybe if you desire dance the evening away to the excellent band the Pocket Rockets, a band Minehead 17-18 September who proved to be a great success at last year’s Don’t miss one of the great beer festival festival. To calm down after two nights of venues of the year as September sees the excess, Sunday lunchtime will be a gentle affair staging of the sixth Somerset Beer Festival on to have a last chance to polish off any the platform of Minehead Station. remaining favourites. Please note any beer that Step off the train straight into the festival. remains after the festival will be sold off at Around 90 beers and ciders from local and discount rates in 5-litre containers. country-wide microbreweries will be available, Tickets may be purchased in advance by including festival specials. Food will be post from Wrington Vale Rotary Beer Festival, available all sessions, with entertainment on Highwater, Norville Lane, Cheddar, BS27 3HJ. Saturday evening (singer-songwriter Helena), Send a stamped, addressed envelope and and Sunday lunchtime (to be arranged). cheque made payable to “Wrington Vale The festival will be open from 11am to Rotary Club”, to arrive before Wednesday 28th 11pm on the Saturday and 12 noon to 4pm on Bath Beer Festival 2005 logo September. Any enquiries call Mark on 07702 the Sunday. Admission is free, though as drawn by Jade Potter aged 12 589617 or directly from Thatcher’s Cider purchase of a commemorative glass (£2.50) or Shop, Sandford. hard plastic glass (50p) will be required. once again to the Old Railway Museum in Travel by scenic West Somerset Railway Faringdon Road for their 2005 festival. Thornbury 28-29 October (reduced fare for card-carrying CAMRA The dates for the Swindon Beer Festival The evenings of Friday 29th and Saturday members) or by bus from Taunton.